MSF Basic Rider Course Review

wtfh4xx · June 23rd, 2011, 01:57 PM

Hey guys how you been?
Well this week I took my MSF course over a 2 day period, 7am till 5 ish.

Ahead of the course I figured it would be boring and not very usefull.
Honestly I only took it because my insurance break will pay for the course and save me a bit of $ as well.
It cost me 250 buckaroos, and two days of my time.

Arriving at the training site I noticed I was the only one to arrive on a motorcycle, everyone else showed up in cars.
We started with introductions and most of the people were either first time riders or passengers deciding its time to be the driver.
We first reviewed the basic controls in the handbook and then went outside to sit on the bikes.
They started everyone off with FINE-C and engrained it in our heads, then started people off by feeling out the clutch engagment and rolling forward and back a bit.
From there they progressed slowly ensuring everyone was able to manage their assigned bikes.
They progressed through maneuvers at what I felt was a proper rate, slow enough for everyone to learn but fast enough to not having people get bored/overconfident.
Im pretty sure everyone passed the course, and we only had one guy run into a fence and drop his bike.

The instructors were top notch, knew what they were talking about, had perfect posture and technique, and made the event enjoyable.

I believe I was top student with a perfect written and exam score.

I also had roughly 600 miles under my belt at the time I started the course.
I did benefit from the course mainly in the slow speed maneuverings and general confidence building.
It was also nice to get to ride bikes of different styles, cruisers sure are a breeze to chill on

Finally it also helped build up the motorcyclist camaraderie, and I made a few riding buddies out of the class.

All in all, I would definitely recommend the MSF Basic Rider course to any rider that hasnt taken it yet.

P.s. Protip for the U-box, LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO (Turn your head all the way around, dont look at the ground).
Once people started applying the "Look where you go" their attempts almost all proved successful.

Alex · August 5th, 2011, 04:29 PM

/moved to riding skills

Havok · August 5th, 2011, 06:18 PM

Nice write up and I am glad you enjoyed the course. I enjoyed mine as well. I hate that Cali charges 250 for it though.

Xoulrath · August 6th, 2011, 10:05 AM

It's $250 here in Georgia as well.

JLinde1339 · August 8th, 2011, 11:55 AM

Haha! Plan to take it in upstate NY....for $275!
Posted via Mobile Device

nickjpass · August 8th, 2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLinde1339

Haha! Plan to take it in upstate NY....for $275!
Posted via Mobile Device

I was about to say $275 in NY lol. Who are you taking it threw?

JLinde1339 · August 8th, 2011, 12:15 PM

Planning on one of the local community colleges, either Hudson Valley CC which is just outside Troy, NY, or at Columbia-Greene CC which is under an hour south of Albany in the Catskills. I was looking at some stuff for CGCC this weekend, and they seem to fill the classes on a first-available basis. That wouldn't work for me, as I'd need to schedule it for a time where I don't have my son. So I'll prolly go to the one at Hudson Valley. Plus, that one is closer. But the ride to the Catskills has so many twisties....!!! :#
Posted via Mobile Device

nickjpass · August 8th, 2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLinde1339

Planning on one of the local community colleges, either Hudson Valley CC which is just outside Troy, NY, or at Columbia-Greene CC which is under an hour south of Albany in the Catskills. I was looking at some stuff for CGCC this weekend, and they seem to fill the classes on a first-available basis. That wouldn't work for me, as I'd need to schedule it for a time where I don't have my son. So I'll prolly go to the one at Hudson Valley. Plus, that one is closer. But the ride to the Catskills has so many twisties....!!! :#
Posted via Mobile Device

I'm going threw MVCC

JLinde1339 · August 8th, 2011, 12:26 PM

I'm guessing that's Mohawk Valley?
Posted via Mobile Device

nickjpass · August 8th, 2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLinde1339

I'm guessing that's Mohawk Valley?
Posted via Mobile Device

Yeah. But I live in Herkimer County :P

JLinde1339 · August 8th, 2011, 12:59 PM

Ahh! Not to far west from me. That'd be a nice ride. I'm a little leary of highways just yet. I'll backroad it if I have the option. But I'm looking forward to taking the course. There's only so much you can learn from the internet, and I'd like to be properly instructed, so I don't pick up any bad habits learning on my own.
Posted via Mobile Device

nickjpass · August 8th, 2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLinde1339

Ahh! Not to far west from me. That'd be a nice ride. I'm a little leary of highways just yet. I'll backroad it if I have the option. But I'm looking forward to taking the course. There's only so much you can learn from the internet, and I'd like to be properly instructed, so I don't pick up any bad habits learning on my own.
Posted via Mobile Device

Old habits die hard.

nickjpass · August 9th, 2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren13

It was 300 here at a local community college..

Wasn't worth it at all. For someone who had been on a bike once before, they went way too fast and spent little time helping people out. Another downside was that the bikes were in complete **** condition.

Passed though - only person that didn't pass dropped his in between the tests. LOL :O

Good job

bkh2 · August 13th, 2011, 10:52 AM

I wish the MSF course here, in Canada, BC, was that cheap... It's close to $800, or even over $1k, depending on where you go. Anyways, good review. I will probably be taking the course in the near future.

Boom King · August 13th, 2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkh2

I wish the MSF course here, in Canada, BC, was that cheap... It's close to $800, or even over $1k, depending on where you go. Anyways, good review. I will probably be taking the course in the near future.

Yikes! I know everything is more expensive out in BC but that's ridiculous.

nickjpass · August 13th, 2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkh2

I wish the MSF course here, in Canada, BC, was that cheap... It's close to $800, or even over $1k, depending on where you go. Anyways, good review. I will probably be taking the course in the near future.

But you guys probably have a course that is 5 times better

.

bkh2 · August 13th, 2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickjpass

But you guys probably have a course that is 5 times better

.

Haha that could be true, but I have no way to judge the quality, since I've never been. Though I guess fatality rates could be a good indication lol

I wonder if it could be cheaper if I cross the border to take the course, though it might not be valid when I come back. Google time...

nickjpass · August 13th, 2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkh2

Haha that could be true, but I have no way to judge the quality, since I've never been. Though I guess fatality rates could be a good indication lol

I wonder if it could be cheaper if I cross the border to take the course, though it might not be valid when I come back. Google time...

I know laser eye surgery is cheaper in Canada

June 23rd, 2011, 01:57 PM	#1
wtfh4xx Opinionated individual :) Name: SecretNinjaMan Location: Nor Cal Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninjette Special Edition (red/black) Posts: 342	MSF Basic Rider Course Review Hey guys how you been? Well this week I took my MSF course over a 2 day period, 7am till 5 ish. Ahead of the course I figured it would be boring and not very usefull. Honestly I only took it because my insurance break will pay for the course and save me a bit of $ as well. It cost me 250 buckaroos, and two days of my time. Arriving at the training site I noticed I was the only one to arrive on a motorcycle, everyone else showed up in cars. We started with introductions and most of the people were either first time riders or passengers deciding its time to be the driver. We first reviewed the basic controls in the handbook and then went outside to sit on the bikes. They started everyone off with FINE-C and engrained it in our heads, then started people off by feeling out the clutch engagment and rolling forward and back a bit. From there they progressed slowly ensuring everyone was able to manage their assigned bikes. They progressed through maneuvers at what I felt was a proper rate, slow enough for everyone to learn but fast enough to not having people get bored/overconfident. Im pretty sure everyone passed the course, and we only had one guy run into a fence and drop his bike. The instructors were top notch, knew what they were talking about, had perfect posture and technique, and made the event enjoyable. I believe I was top student with a perfect written and exam score. I also had roughly 600 miles under my belt at the time I started the course. I did benefit from the course mainly in the slow speed maneuverings and general confidence building. It was also nice to get to ride bikes of different styles, cruisers sure are a breeze to chill on Finally it also helped build up the motorcyclist camaraderie, and I made a few riding buddies out of the class. All in all, I would definitely recommend the MSF Basic Rider course to any rider that hasnt taken it yet. P.s. Protip for the U-box, LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO (Turn your head all the way around, dont look at the ground). Once people started applying the "Look where you go" their attempts almost all proved successful. __________________________________________________ Yoshi slip on, shimmed 2 washers, zip tie throttle mod, pre-load #2, snorkel delete 2010 SE 250R! Miles in the saddle: 1000

August 5th, 2011, 04:29 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	/moved to riding skills __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

August 6th, 2011, 10:05 AM	#4
Xoulrath ninjette.org sage Name: T Location: U.S. Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): Current: '11 ZX-6R; Previous: '09 Ninjette; '08 ZX-6R (Ex-Wife '09 TU250X) Posts: 981	It's $250 here in Georgia as well. __________________________________________________ R.I.P EthioKnight (Alex)

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August 5th, 2011, 06:18 PM	#3
Havok Internet Slut Name: Jeff Location: L.A. Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 04 FZ1, 07 FZ6 Posts: A lot.	Nice write up and I am glad you enjoyed the course. I enjoyed mine as well. I hate that Cali charges 250 for it though.

August 8th, 2011, 11:55 AM	#5
JLinde1339 Fighterer in Training Name: Joshua Location: Schenectady, NY Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250R Posts: 316	Haha! Plan to take it in upstate NY....for $275! Posted via Mobile Device

August 8th, 2011, 12:15 PM	#7
JLinde1339 Fighterer in Training Name: Joshua Location: Schenectady, NY Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250R Posts: 316	Planning on one of the local community colleges, either Hudson Valley CC which is just outside Troy, NY, or at Columbia-Greene CC which is under an hour south of Albany in the Catskills. I was looking at some stuff for CGCC this weekend, and they seem to fill the classes on a first-available basis. That wouldn't work for me, as I'd need to schedule it for a time where I don't have my son. So I'll prolly go to the one at Hudson Valley. Plus, that one is closer. But the ride to the Catskills has so many twisties....!!! :# Posted via Mobile Device

August 8th, 2011, 12:26 PM	#9
JLinde1339 Fighterer in Training Name: Joshua Location: Schenectady, NY Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250R Posts: 316	I'm guessing that's Mohawk Valley? Posted via Mobile Device

August 8th, 2011, 12:59 PM	#11
JLinde1339 Fighterer in Training Name: Joshua Location: Schenectady, NY Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250R Posts: 316	Ahh! Not to far west from me. That'd be a nice ride. I'm a little leary of highways just yet. I'll backroad it if I have the option. But I'm looking forward to taking the course. There's only so much you can learn from the internet, and I'd like to be properly instructed, so I don't pick up any bad habits learning on my own. Posted via Mobile Device

August 13th, 2011, 10:52 AM	#14
bkh2 ninjette.org guru Name: Ben Location: R'lyeh Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2006 GSXR 750; 1983 CB750SC Posts: 277	I wish the MSF course here, in Canada, BC, was that cheap... It's close to $800, or even over $1k, depending on where you go. Anyways, good review. I will probably be taking the course in the near future.